High frequency eddy wave (HFR) artistic impression. These waves appear as a circular motion near the Sun’s equator. The rotation in the north is always asymmetrical with the rotation in the southern hemisphere. This mysterious wave travels in the opposite direction to the Sun’s rotation, i.e. to the right, three times faster than hydrodynamics alone would allow. Credit: University of New York Abu Dhabi
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Researchers from the University of New York Abu Dhabi’s Center for Space Science (NYUAD) have detected a new series of waves on the Sun that, unexpectedly, appear to be moving much faster than theory thought.
In study, High-frequency eddies detected in the sunPublished in magazine natural astronomyThe researchers – led by Research Associate Chris S Hanson – detailed how they analyzed 25 years of space and terrestrial data to detect these waves. High-frequency retrograde waves (HFR) – which travel in the opposite direction to the Sun’s rotation – appear as a pattern of vortices (rotating motion) on the Sun’s surface and travel at three times the speed dictated by current theory.
The interior of the Sun and stars cannot be imaged by conventional astronomy (such as optical rays, X-rays, etc.), and scientists rely on interpretation of surface markings from various waves to describe their interiors. This new HFR may be an important piece of the puzzle in our understanding of stars.
Complex interactions between other known waves and magnetic, gravitational, or convective waves can drive HFR waves so fast. “If HFR can be linked to any of these three processes, the results will answer some of the open questions we still have about the Sun,” Hanson said. “However, it appears that this new wave is not the result of this process, which is interesting because it leads to a whole new set of questions.”
Penelitian ini dilakukan di NYU Abu Dhabi Space Science Center bekerja sama dengan Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (TIFR) dan[{”attribute=””>NewYorkUniversityusingNYUADandTIFR’scomputationalresourcesBystudyingtheSun’sinteriordynamics—throughtheuseofwaves—scientistscanbetterappreciatetheSun’spotentialimpactontheEarthandotherplanetsinoursolarsystem[{”attribute=””>NewYorkUniversityusingNYUADandTIFR’scomputationalresourcesBystudyingtheSun’sinteriordynamics—throughtheuseofwaves—scientistscanbetterappreciatetheSun’spotentialimpactontheEarthandotherplanetsinoursolarsystem
“The very existence of HFR modes and their origin is a true mystery and may allude to exciting physics at play,” said Shravan Hanasoge, a co-author of the paper. “It has the potential to shed insight on the otherwise unobservable interior of the Sun.”
Reference: “Discovery of high-frequency-retrograde vorticity waves in the Sun” 24 March 2022, Nature Astronomy.
DOI: 10.1038 / s41550-022-01632-z
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